Free service coin-controlled machine



Feb.'9, 1943. H. s. BENJAMIN 2,310,206

` r v FREE-SERVICE coIN-coNTRoLLED MACHINE i` Filed Dec. 2e, 1940 5 sheets-sheet 1 Feb.- 9, 1943. H, s. BENJAMIN 2,310,206

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4s. BENJAMIN SERVICE COIN-CONTOLLED MACHINE FREE- Filed Dec. 2e, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 9,1943.- l' H. s.` BENJAMIN 2,310,206v

FREE-SERVICE COIN-CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed Dec. 26,1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l 1 I/ 20% gof 325 52g 327 as! 234 zas 23@ gnyy 07% f5.5. fa

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FREE-SERVICE. COIN-CONTROLLED MACHINE Slwcntor Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREE SERVICE vCOIN-CONTROLLED MACHIN Harry S. Benjamin, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Application December 26, 1940, Serial No. 371,700

1 Claim.

machine having means for retaining the coin of the operator but permitting the carrying out of an additional free operating cycle after a predetermined number of paid operating cycles have been performed, thereby enabling the operator to obtain free merchandise or a free cycle of operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide a coin-controlled machine wherein means is provided for enabling the operator to carry out a complete working cycle without using a coin after a predetermined number of paid working cycles has been effected, thereby enabling the operator to obtain free merchandise or otherwise benet as the result of obtaining a free working cycle after a predetermined number of working cycles have been paid for.

Another object is to provide a coin-controlled machine of the type s et forth in the preceding objects wherein signalling means is provided for notifying the operator when a profit-sharing free working cycle has arrived.

The coin-responsive mechanism herein is disclosed and claimed apart from the prot-sharing mechanism, in my co-pending application Serial No. 359,755, filed October 4, 1940.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the operating bar in its upper or starting position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to the upper part of Figure l, but showing the positions of the parts at the end of the down stroke in the final paid cycle immediately before a free cycle of operation.

Figure 4. is a View similar to Figure 3, but showing the positions of the parts at the top of the return stroke of the operating bar at the end of the final paid cycle of operation just prior to the free cycle.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figures 3 and 4, but showing the positions of the parts at the comfor the operator.

mencement of the free cycle just after the completion of the final paid cycle of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section along the line 6-6 in Figure 1 showing the free-service mechanism in plane view.

Figure 7 is a vertical section through the freeservice mechanism taken along the line 1-1 in Figure 2.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT In general, the coin-controlled machine of the invention is intended for use with vending machines or other coin-operated machines intended to perform services or provide amusement In the machine of the present invention, the coin is deposited in a position where it is supported by three rollers mounted on three separate levers. These rollers are operatively connected or related to an operating 'bar which is set in motion when the operator turns the operating knob or moves an operating member corresponding to the operating knob.

The operating bar is provided with various cams which actuate the coin roller levers in various ways. After a coin has been inserted and a partial operating cycle has been accomplished, the operator may change his mind and get his coin back if he releases the operating knob or other operating member. In that event, the mechanism moves one or more of the coin holding rollers to permit the coin to fall into the coin return chute whereby it is returned to the operator. If, however, the operator continues the operating cycle beyond this predetermined point,

. the mechanism prevents the return of the coin and carries out the complete operating cycle, thereby guiding the coin into the coin box and ejecting the mechanism or performing the service for which the coin was deposited. In this event, one of the coin holding rollers moves in a different direction to guide the coin into the coin box rather than into the coin return chute, as in the partial cycle where the operator changed his mind and sought the return of his coin.

The machine of the present invention also permits a partial stroke or cycle when no coin Whatever has been deposited therein. This enables the machine to be cleared of slugs, false coins, or coins of the wrong denominations.

The machine is also provided with a so-called ree-service device, whereby the operator obtains a free Working cycle of the machine after a predetermined number of operating cycles have been paid for. This free-service device is accompanied by a signalling device, such as a bell,

which notifies the operator of the arrival of a free working cycle. In particular, the freeservice device consists of ratchet mechanism which holds out of operation the latching mechanism which ordinarily prevents the completion of a working stroke without the use of a coin. A modication oi the invention provides an intermittent free service machine wherein a coin other than the coin deposited by the operator is returned to the operator as the result of the operation of the proiit-sharing mechanism. Other modifications provide different mechanisms for effecting the free-service cycles.

Construction of coin-controlled machine Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the coin-controlled machine of the invention as consisting of a frame 28 having a plate 2| secured thereto, as by the flange portion 2 and screws 23. The plate 2i projects forwardly from the frame 28 and has secured thereto, as at 24, a second plate 25. The two plates 2i and 25 are placed face to face with each other and are held closely together.

Secured as at 28 to the plate 2| is a coin chute 21 aligned with a coin slot 28 in a coin window 28 mounted in the front wall 38 of the machine. The coin chute 21 is inclined downwardly and consists or" a generally inclined portion 3| and a vertical portion 32. The vertical portion 32 terminates immediately above a closure member 33 secured as at 34 to the plates 2| and 25. The closure member 33 is spaced apart from the plate 2| by a space suicient for the passage of a coin, and for that purpose (Figure 3), it is provided with flanged front and rear walls 35 and 36 respectively. The retaining member 33 is bifurcated in its lower parts, and is there provided with a coin retaining chute 31 near the ront of the machine and a coin returning chute 38 at the rear thereof. The division between the two chutes 31 and 38 is made by means of the inclined flanged inner walls 39 and 48 respectively, so that a coin which falls upon the inclined wall 39 is guided downwardly into the coin box and is retained by the machine, whereas a coin falling upon the inclined flange 48 is guided downwardly into the coin return chute 38 and is returned to the operator.

The closure member 33 at its upper end is provided with a coin inlet port 4| (Figure 1) communicating with the lower end of the vertical portion 32 of the coin chute 21. For purposes of simplicity, the coin chute 21 is shown as leading directly into the chamber 4.2 (Figure 1) within the closure member 33. In actual practice, however, the machine is additionally provided with so-called coin-testing mechanism interposed between the coin chute 21 and the subsequent mechanism, whereby slugs, washers, buttons, coins of the wrong denominations, and other improper checks or coins are eliminated, thus permitting only proper coins or checks to pass into the chamber 42 within the closure member 33. This coin testing mechanism is well known to those skilled in the art, and forms no part of the present invention.

After passing downwardly through the passages 3| and 32 of the coin chute 21, the coin 43 comes to rest upon a bottom coin-holding roller 44 and ag inst either the front coin-holding roller 45 or the rear coin-holding roller 46. 'I'he bottom coin-holding roller 44 is rotatablyA CTL mounted upon a pin 41 (Figures 3 and 4) mounted in the upper end of the bottom roller lever 48. The latter at its upper end is provided with a projection (i8 and at its mid-point is provided with a second projection 58 adjacent the pivot pin 5| upon which the bottom roller lever 48 is pivotally mounted and which in turn is mounted in the vertically reciprocable operating bar 52. The lower end of the bottom roller lever 48 is provided with a pin 53 t0 which is secured one end of a spring 54, the opposite end of which is secured to a pin 55 mounted near the lower end of the operating bar 52.

The rear coin-holding roller 4S is rotatably mounted upon a pin 51 mounted at the midportion of the rear roller lever 58, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin 59 secured to the plate 25 (Figures 1 and 3). The upper end of the lever 58 is provided with a head 60 carrying a projection or cam follower 5| which engages the cam portion 62 of the lower operating bar cam 63. The cam 83 is xedly secured to the operating bar 52 and serves to control the motion of the rear coin roller lever 58 as the operating bar 52 is moved downward by the operator or upward by a coil spring 64 anchored as at to the plate 25, and at its opposite end secured to the member 65 attached as at 61 to the lower end of the operating bar 52 (Figure l). The cam follower portion 6| is urged against the cam portion 82 (Figure l) by means of the coil spring 68 secured as at 69 to the head 60 of the lever 58 and at its opposite end to the pin 10 mounted on the operating bar 52.

The iront roller 45 (Figure 1) is rotatably mounted upon a pin 1| which in turn is mounted at the upper end of the front coin roller lever 12. The latter is in bell crank form, and is pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin 13 mounted on the plate 25 (Figure 1). The upper arm 14 of the front roller lever 12 ca-rries an ear 15 to which one end of a spring 16 is attached, the other end being connected to an ear 11 upon the front cam lever 18. The lower arm 19 of the front roller lever 12 is provided at its end with a pivot pin 80 (Figure 1) carrying a roller 8| adapted to be engaged by the projection 49 of the bottom coin roller lever 48 when the latter is swung in that direction on the return stroke of the operating bar 52 by the engagement of the upper edge of its projection 58 with the lower edge of the nose 82 of the yieldable tripping lever 83 (Figure l) of bell crank form mounted upon the pivot pin 84 secured to the plate 25. The lower end of the tripping lever 83 is provided with an ear 85 to which one end of a spring 8B is secured, the opposite end being secured to a pin 81 mounted on the operating bar 52. On the downward stroke of the operating bar 52, the projection 58 on the bottom roller lever 48 engages the nose 82 and pushes the trip lever 83 forwardly away from the stop pin 88 and moves on to engage the pin 89. This causes the bottom roller lever 48 to swing rearward, dropping any coin then resting on the bottom roller 44 into the chute 31 and thence into the coin box of the machine. If this downward stroke is halted and the upward or return stroke commenced after passing the tripping lever 83 but before reaching the pin 89, however, the engagement of the projection 58 with the nose 82 of the now unmovable tripping lever 83 swings the 'bottom roller lever 48 forward so that its upper projection 49 engages the roller 8| of the front roller lever 12 and swings the latter rearward. This causes any coin then resting on 'the Figure 1. It consists broadly of a ratchet operated stop which rings a bell or operates any other suitable signalling device when the intermittent free-service cycle has arrived, and at the same time engages the pin |88 on the upper end of the cam lever 18 and holds it in its forward position, so as to permit the machine t be operated for a complete working cycle without a coin, thus delivering an additional article of merchandise to the operator for a single coin.

For this purpose the pivot pin 5| of the bottom roller lever 48 carries a roller |68 which engages the bifurcated ends |6| and |62 ofV a lever |63 pivoted upon a pin |64 mounted on the plate 25. The upper end of the lever |63 carries a pin |65 which enters and moves in a slot |66 within an arm |61 forming an extension of the pawl-carrying member |68. The latter is provided with an ear |69 to which is secured one end of a spring |10, the opposite end of which is attached as at |1| to a pawl |12. The pawl |12 is pivotally mounted on the pin |13 secured to the pawl-carrying member |68. The spring |18 urges the pointed tip |14 of the pawl |12 into engagement with the teeth |15 of a ratchet pinion |16.

The pawl-carrying member |58 and the ratchet pinion |16 rotate around a pivot pin or pintle |11 mounted in the plate 25. The rearward rotation of the ratchet pinion |16 is prevented by a retardation pawl |18 pivoted upon the pin |19 mounted on the plate 25 and having an ear |86 to which one end of a spring |8| is secured, the opposite end being anchored to a pin |82 mounted on the plate 25. This spring |8| urges the tip |83 of the retardation pawl |16 into engagement with the ratchet teeth |15.

Also mounted on the pivot pin |11 and rotatable therearound is a cam disk |84 having a cam slot |85 in the periphery thereof. The cam disk |84 is connected to the ratchet |16 and rotates as a unit therewith.

Also pivoted upon the pivot pin |19 is a lever |86 havingan aperture |81 at the center thereof for providing clearance relatively to the pivot pin |11. The lever |86 is provided with a projecting arm |86 carrying a pin |88 (Figure l) adapted to enter the cam slot |65 when the latter arrives opposite the pin |89, thus permitting the lever |86 to drop under the action of a spring |66 secured at one end to a pin |9| mounted on an extension |92 of the plate 25 at its other end as at |83 to a projecting arm |64 integral with the lever |86 and providing a bell crank effect.

Secured to the arm as at |95 is a rod |96 carrying a bell clapper |91. The latter is adapted to hit and ring a bell |98 secured as at |99 to the plate extension |62 when the pin |89 enters the cam slot |85. The outer end of the lever |86 is provided with an abutment portion 260 adapted to engage and hold out the pin |68 on the front cam lever 18 when the pin |89- enters the vcam slot |85 preparatory to a free-service cycle of operation.

Operation The operation of the machine has already been indicated above in connection with the description of the various mechanisms. To operate the machine, the operator places a coin 43 in the coin slot 28, whence the coin passes downward through the coin chute 21 through the port 4| and halts when it falls upon two of the three rollers 44, 45 and 46 (Figure 1). As previously explained, the coin in an actual machine is checked for its proper value by testing mechanism forming no part of the invention and omitted in order to simplify the showing. At the start the various parts occupy the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The operator now rotates the knob |25 and as a consequence draws down the operating bar 52. As the bar 52 and its cam 63 move downward, the projections 6| and 9| on the levers 58 and 18 move inwardly over the top of the cam 63, permitting the coin-holding rollers 45 and 46 to be pulled toward one another by the springs 68 and 98, pushing the coin 43 downward. Meanwhile, the bottom coin-holding roller 44 has moved downward with the operating bar 52 and permits the front and rear rollers 45 and 46 to move over the top of the coin, holding the coin rrnly between the three rollers. As the bar 52 moves downward, the projection 50 upon the bottom roller lever 48 engages the nose 82 of the tripping lever 63, pushes it aside, and passes beneath it with a click as the tripping lever 83 returns to its original position.

If the operator now changes his mind and decides that he wishes a different article of merchandise from that which he originally selected, he can have his coin returned by merely releasing the knob |25. When this is done, the springs |38 and 64 return the parts to their original positions of Figures 1 and 2. In the meantime, however, the operating bar 52 moves upward and the projection 50 on the bottom roller lever 48 engages the lower edge 0f the nose 62 on the tripping lever 83. Since the latter cannot swing, due to the presence of the stop pin 88, the lever 48 itself is swung toward the front of the machine and its projection 49 engages the roller 8| on the lower arm 19 of the front roller 1ever 12, swinging the front coin-holding roller 45 rearwardly as the bottom coin-holding roller 44 moves forwardly. At the same time, the rear roller lever 58 and the rear coin-holding roller 46 are moved rearwardly by the engagement of the projection 6| thereof with the cam 63. The coin 43, accordingly, drops through the gap between the oppositely moving y coin-holding rollers 44 and 46 and is deflected by the flange 46 into the coin returning chute 38. The coin then falls into the merchandise delivery chute and is returned to the operator. The latter may then insert the coin in the coin chute corresponding to another kind of merchandise.

Let it be assumed, however, that the operator is satisfied with his choice, and rotates the knob |25 as far as it will go. When the shaft |22 has rotated the quadrant ratchet |35 to the point where the pawl arm |39 engages between the teeth |36 of the ratchet |35 (Figure'2), or just beyond the end of the mind-changing part of the cycle, the pawl |31 will prevent the return motion of the knob |25 until it has been completely rotated. As the operating bar 52 moves downwardly to the end of its stroke (Figure 5), therefore, the projection 56 on the bottom coinholding roller lever 48 engages the xed pin 89 and swings the lever 48 and the bottom coinholding roller 44 rearward, opening a gap between it and the forward coin-holding roller 45 through which the coin 43 drops downward into the coin retaining chute 31 and thence into the coin box of the machine. The front coin-holding roller 45 is permitted to move forward when the lever 18 is forcibly moved forward by the engagement of the pin 99 with the upper arm 98 of the bell crank lever 96, the lower arm of which (Figure 5) engages the sleeve 94 and forces the lever 98 forward as the operating barA 52 approaches the bottom roller 44 to be dropped into the coin return chute 38 and returned to the operator.

Also secured to the end 11 on the front cam lever 18 is one end of a spring 90, the opposite end of which is anchored to the .pin 10 mounted on the operating bar 52. The lower end of the front cam lever 18 is pivotally mounted upon the same pivot pin 13 which pivotally supports the front roller lever 12. The mid-portion of the front cam lever 18 is provided with a projection or cam follower 9| (Figure 1) which engages the cam portion 92 upon the forward end of the cam 63 mounted on the operating bar 52. Adjacent the :cam follower 9| on the front cam lever 18 is an adjusting screw 93 carrying a non-rotatable eccentric sleeve 94 (Figure l) which is engaged by the lower arm 95 of a bell-crank lever 95 pivotally mounted upon the pin 91 secured to the plate 25 and having its upper arm 98 engageable by a pin 99 mounted on the upper end of the operating bar 52. When the operating bar 52 nears the lower end of its operating stroke, but beyond the point where the operator may change his mind and have his coin returned, the |pin 99 engages the upper arm 98 and swings the lower arm 95 of the bell crank lever 96 forwardly against the sleeve 94, swinging the front cam lever 19 forwardly and likewise permitting the front roller lever 12 to swing forwardly under the influence of the coil spring 16. By loosening the adjusting screw 93, the eccentric sleeve 94 may be rotated to a different position and then secured in this position by tightening the screw 93. This enables the motion of the front cam lever 1B to be properly synchronized with the operation of the remainder of the mechanism.

The upper end of the Ifront cam lever 18 carries a stop pin which is adapted to swing beneath the cross member |0| fiXedly secured to the operating bar 52 near its upper end. This arrangement halts the operating bar 52 at a predetermined position when the machine is attemptedly operated without a coin. The motion of the operating bar 52 as a whole is guided and also limited by slots |02 and |93 near its opposite ends and serving to receive pins |04 and |95 mounted in the upper and lower portions respectively of the plate 25.

The plate 2| along its lower edge is provided with slightly bent, coin-deecting portions and |01 cooperating with the adjacent portions of the closure member 33 to deiiect the coin either into the coin return chute 38 or into the coinretaining chute 31 as the Case may be. The plates 2| and 25 are formed with elongated apertures or slots |09, |09 and ||0 for respectively permitting the motion of the coin-holding rollers 44, 45 and 45 as well as permitting the rollers to project therethrough into the chamber 42 formed between the .plate 2| and the closure member 33 (Figure 2).

Operating mechanism The operating bar 52 may be reciprocated in any desired manner by any suitable operating member manipulated by the operator. For purposes of illustration, the machine is shown as provided with actuating mechanism similar to that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,010,911 to H. S. Benjamin, dated August 13, 1935, for a Vertical Icolumn vending machine. Reference is made to this patent for a vending machine to which the coin-controlled machine of the present invention may be attached for vending articles such as candy, gum, food, etc.

For this Apurpose alink I I (Figures `1 and 2) is provided with an ear I I2 lpivotally mounted upon the screw 61 in the lower end of the operating bar 52. The link is slotted as at I3 to receive a guide pin II4 mounted in the supporting lplate II5. The supporting plate |I5 is secured as at ||6 to the forward flange ||1 of the angle plate ||8 (Figure 1), the rearward flange |9 of which is secured as at |20 to the frame or rear wall 20. The latter is provided with a hole |2| in which is journaled an operating shaft |22, the forward end of which is journaled in an aperture |23 in the front wall ||5, and is provided with an operating knob |25 mounted thereon. The operating knob |25 is the external part which is grasped by the operator for operating the machine.

Mounted on the operating shaft |22 is a cam |26 (Figure 1) of roughly triangular shape and arranged to engage a roller |21 mounted on a pin |28 carried by the lower end of the link I I The latter is slotted as at |29 (Figure 2) in order for it to accommodate the operating shaft |22. As a consequence, when the knob |25 is rotated, and with it the cam |26, the engagement of the cam follower roller |21 with the cam |26 causes the link III and operating bar 52 to be drawn downward. When the knob |25 is released, however, the spring 64 assists in retracting the operating bar 52 and link III. At the same time, however, the knob |25 and operating shaft |22 are returned to their original position by means of a spring |30 secured at one end to the pin I3! mounted in the supporting plate ||5 and at its other end passing over a circumferential groove |32 in a disk |33 mounted on the operating shaft |22 and anchored by the screw |34 (Figure 1).

Also mounted on the operating shaft |22 is a quadrant ratchet |35 resembling a mutilated gear and having ratchet teeth |36 extending only partially around its periphery. The ratchet teeth |36 (Figures 1 and 2) are engageable with a bell crank pawl |31 mounted on the pivot pin |39 secured to the supporting plate ||5. One arm |39 of the bell crank pawl 31 is formed and positioned to engage the ratchet teeth |36 whereas the other arm |40 is connected to one end of a spring I4I, the other end of which is anchored to the pin |42 mounted on the supporting plate In order to effect the vending of the merchandise, the shaft |22 is provided with an additional cam |43 mounted thereon and engageable with roller |44 mounted on pin |45 which in turn is secured to the vending member |45. The latter is slotted as at |41 to accommodate the shaft |22 and at its lower end is provided with a pin |48 to which is secured a. spring |49 having its opposite end anchored to the pin |50 mounted on the frame or rear wall 20. The spring |49 constantly urges the roher I 44 against the periphery of the cam |43. The vending member |46 extends upward into the interior of the machine and accomplishes the service for which the operator deposited his coin. In particular, if the machine is a vending machine, the vending member |46 operates a releasing device which releases the article of merchandise, as more fully disclosed in the previously mentioned Benjamin patent No. 2,010,911 of August 13, 1935. The particular form of this vending mechanism forms no part of the present invention.

Intermittent free-service mechanism end of its working stroke. This still further widens the gap between the bottom roller 44 and the front roller 45.

While this is occurring, the rotation of the operating shaft |22 rotates the cam |43 (Figure 1) and pulls down the vending member |46, releasing an article of merchandise in the manner set forth in the previously mentioned Benjamin Patent No. 2,010,911 of August 13, 1935. The article thus vended drops down through the vending chute and is withdrawn by the operator. By this time the pawl arm |39 has passed over al1 of the teeth |36 of the quadrant ratchet |35.

When the knob |25 is released, therefore, the spring |38 acting on the disk |33 rotates the operating shaft |22 and knob |25 backward to their starting positions, while the pawl arm |39 clicks over the ratchet teeth |36 until the ratchet |35 reaches its starting position (Figure l). Meanwhile, the upward motion of the cam 63 on the operating bar 52 forces the levers 58 and 18 apart and causes the front and rear rollers 45 and 46 to move apart from each other, ready for the reception of another coin.

In case the knob |25 is rotated without the depositing of a coin in the coin chute 3|, the machine operates through a part of the operating cycle in the manner previously described. This partial operation enables the machine to be cleared of slugs, buttons, washers or other undesirable articles. As the operating bar 52 moves downward, the projection 9| on the lever 18 moves over the top of the cam 63 and permits the lever 18 to move rearward, causing the pin |00 on the end thereof to move beneath the cross member on the operating bar 52. This action effectively halts the downward motion of the operating bar 52, and accordingly prevents the rotation of the knob |25 to a position where it will vend merchandise.

Meanwhile, the free-service mechanism has been in operation. Upon each reciprocation of the operating bar 52, the lever |63 is swung through an arc by its engagement with the roller |60 (Figure 1), causing its end pin |65 to swing to and fro in the slot |66. This action causes the pawl-carrying member |61 to oscillate around the pin |11, each oscillation causing the pawl |12 to advance the ratchet |16 by one tooth. The ratchet |16 is prevented from rotating during the return stroke of the operating bar 52 by reason of the action of the retardation pawl |18.

After a predetermined number of paid working strokes have been accomplished, depending upon the number of ratchet teeth in the ratchet pinion |16, the cam disk |84 is rotated until its cam slot |85 arrives at a location immediately beneath the pin |89 on the arm |88 of the lever |86. When this occurs, the pin |89 drops into the cam slot |85, permitting the lever |86 to swing downward and carry the abutment portion 200 into the path of the pin |00 upon the end of the front cam lever 18 (Figure 3). At the same time, the clapper |91 rings the bell |98, warning the operator that he is now entitled to receive an additional working stroke of the machine and obtain an additional article of merchandise without the necessity of depositing an additional coin.

To obtain the additional merchandise, the operator rotates the knob |25 as before and the operating bar 52 moves downward as usual. Since there is no coin in position between the coinholding rollers 44, 45 and 46, the front cam lever 18 moves inward as usual to place the stop pin |00 beneath the cross member |0| on the operating bar 52 and halt the latter before it has completed a down stroke. Before the stop pin |00 reaches this position, however, it is intercepted by and encounters the abutment portion 200 of the lever |86, so that the operating bar 52 is not prevented from moving to the end of its downward stroke as in the ordinary operation of the device. The operator is thus permitted to rotate the knob |25 to the end of ya. working stroke and obtain an additional or free article of merchandise without having placed an additional coin in the coin slot 28.

As the bar 52 moves downward upon its free working stroke, that is, Without a coin, it operates the pawl |12 through the lever |63 as before, and advances the ratchet |16 by another tooth. This action rotates the cam disk |84 through an additional distance equivalent to one ratchet tooth, causing the cam slot |85 to pass out from underneath the pin |89. As this occurs (Figure 5), the pin |89 is caused to climb the opposite side of the cam slot |85 and comes to rest again on the periphery of the cam disk |84, lifting the lever |86 and raising the abutment portion 200 out of the path of the stop pin |00.

If, now, the operator attempts to operate the machine for another working stroke without inserting a coin, the abutment 200 is no longer in position to intercept the stop pin |00. Accordingly, the stop pin |00 moves beneath the cross member |0| as the lever 18 swings inward in the manner previously described. This brings the operating bar 52 to a halt before the end of the working stroke has been accomplished, preventing the delivery of further merchandise until a coin has :again been inserted.

The operator now releases the knob |25, whereupon the springs 64 and |30 cooperate to move the operating bar 52 upward to its return position (Figure 1). When the operating bar 52 is moved through the partial stroke permitted when there is no coin in the machine, the lever |63 is not shifted a sufficient distance to actuate the pawlcarrying member |61 far enough to move the ratchet |16. As a consequence the cam disk |84 is not rotated when the machine is operated without a coin, except during the full cycle permitted on the free-service stroke as described above. In this way the operator is prevented from advancing the cam disk |84 to the profitsharing position merely by working the machine through a repeated number of the partial strokes permitted by the mechanism without the insertion of coins.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail, it is to be understood that the same is to be limited only by the appended claim for many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

In a coin-controlled machine coin-operated service-rendering mechanism, a movable machine-operating member, a plurality of levers having coin-holding portions thereon, one of said levers being mounted on and movable with said operating member, means responsive to the motion of said operating member for moving the other levers to maintain their coin-holding portions in engagement with the coin, and free-service means responsive to the completion of a predetermined number of paid operations of said machine for conditioning said service mechanism to render said service in the absence of a coin.

HARRY S. BENJAMIN. 

